If you’re a millennial, then you’ve probably heard the term “financial literacy” thrown around a lot. But what is financial literacy, and why is it so important? Financial literacy is the ability to understand and use financial concepts. This includes everything from budgeting and saving to investing and retirement planning.
Why is financial literacy so important for millennials? Because we are facing some unique financial challenges that previous generations didn’t have to deal with. For example, we are shouldering more student loan debt than any other generation. We’re also waiting longer to buy homes and start families. And thanks to the ever-changing landscape of the job market, many of us are facing job insecurity. All of these factors mean that it’s more important than ever for us to be financially literate.
Fortunately, there are lots of resources out there to help us get started. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the basics of personal finance and provide some tips on how to get started on your own journey to financial literacy.
Budgeting Basics for Millennials
One of the most important aspects of personal finance is learning how to create and stick to a budget. A budget is simply a plan for how you will spend your money each month. Budgeting can seem daunting at first, but there are lots of helpful resources out there to get you started.
One helpful tool is Mint.com. Mint is a free online service that helps you track your spending, set goals, and create a budget. You can link all of your financial accounts—including your checking account, savings account, credit cards, and investments—to Mint, which makes it easy to see where your money is going each month. You can also use Mint’sBill Pay feature to pay your bills online and track when they’re due.
Another helpful tool isPersonal Capital. Personal Capital is similar to Mint in that it helps you track your spending and create a budget. However, Personal Capital goes one step further by helping you track your investment portfolio and plan for retirement. Personal Capital is free to use, but there is also a paid premium version with additional features such as credit monitoring and human financial advisors who can provide personalized advice.
No matter where you are in your journey to financial literacy, remember that there are lots of resources available to help you get started. Whether you’re just beginning to learn about budgeting or you’re ready to start investing for retirement, there’s something out there for everyone. The most important thing is to take those first steps towards financial security—it’s never too early (or too late) to start!